For our last reading assignment, I had to read part three of The Short Bus by Jonathan Mooney. This part was the shortest section of the three but I believe it was the most important. Jon's final passenger on the short bus was a child named Miles. Miles was a troubled boy who did not know whether to go back to school or drop out. He seemed to be facing a lot of difficulties so the journey he took with Jon was a way for him to see a different side of life and experience different things. Accompanying Jon on the last part of his journey was a way for Miles to figure out who he truly was and what he really wanted in life. One person Jon visited at the end of this journey was a man named Jeff. Jeff came off a little strange. He timed everything that went on. For example how long it took them to drive to town or how long it took them to walk some place. He needed to stay on a schedule. Jon went through the day with Jeff trying to decipher what was wrong with him. Jon thought Jeff had Aspergers Syndrome but when he asked Jeff, Jeff replied that he did not have this. After realizing Jeff did not like labels or to categorize himself, Jon let Jeff continue with his plans for them throughout the day. By the end of the day, Jon realized that Jeff was different but that there was nothing wrong with that. He had learned to accept Jeff. Jeff made Jon a copy of his journal and months later Jon finally decided to read it. He learned from Jeff's journal that Jeff's story is confusing. There is no label or diagnosis to give Jeff. You just must accept him for who he is. Jeff choose a different but happier way of living then most, this way suited him. The last person Jon decided to visit on his way back home was his Uncle Bill. Uncle Bill helped Jon to find the answers he had been searching for, for a long time. He showed Jon that "normal is bigger than you think." He said to Jon, "When you realize that sickness is normal you're free. You can stop trying to be other than as you are." Jon listened to his Uncle and realized that this is true. Everyone has problems, everyone is different and no one is normal. Normal is a relative term. On his way back home, Jon called his mother but his father picked up. For once in Jon's life, his dad had wanted to talk to him so Jon told him all about his journey. This was abnormal because his dad never talked, or picked up the phone and never called Jon. At the end of their conversation Jon's dad said, "I'm proud of you." He had never told Jon this before. Jon realized that this journey had changed him. He finally realized he would always be a short bus rider and could not change who he was. Jon realized the bus, Bob Henry was a part of him and choose not to give him up. Jon learned to finally accept himself and his past by the end of this journey. He embraced being different and ended the story by yelling, "Cut me some slack. I'm a short bus rider." This book was inspiring and taught me so much about special education that I never would have known otherwise. I really enjoyed reading this book.
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